Home		View our 'Article Archive' Have Diabetes and concerned about the potential complications, What you can do! Written by Scott Jacks, co-owner of Goodness Me!  He has lived with diabetes his whole life. His father died of the complications. His younger sister has been taking insulin since she was 5 and Scott is insulin dependent and uses an insulin infusion pump. Scott is also Past President of the Hamilton & District Branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association. The following is my goal as inspired by Dr. Julian Whitaker. His approach takes diabetes management a giant step forward beyond just simple blood sugar management and basic nutrition practice. Thanks to Janet, my wife, who in my opinion is brilliant when it comes to nutrition and assists me in being more disciplined than I would like to be, I have been privileged to be eating a high fibre, complex carbohydrate diet long before it was ever accepted by traditional medicine. Janet has been diligent in researching appropriate supplementation for me. We diabetics, insulin dependent or not insulin dependent, suffer greatly from inadequate nutrition due to wasting of nutrients through excess urination, poor absorption, and a greater need of nutrients to balance the stresses of the disease. Certainly most of the complications from this disease, as well as the extreme lags in energy, could be nutrition related. Recommendations Read "How to Prevent & Treat Diabetes w/Natural Medicine" by Dr. Micheal Lyon and Micheal Murray (N.D.) This book provides important information, with excellent information on the high complex carbohydrate diet and the dangers of over-insulinizing. He also explains insulin resistance and the problems of the oral drugs. Take one of Janet or Sandy's cooking classes and/or wellness classes at Goodness Me!. They provide excellent information for a diabetic. The Healthy Life Class or Wellness Workshop would be particularly helpful. Serious Supplementation: From personal experience, and through the influence of Dr. Whitaker, I have come to realize that nutritional supplementation is essential for me as a diabetic. Although each person is different, and there are many variation on the theme, the principle remains the same: Nutrients, Nutrients, and more Nutrients! Dr. Whitaker really emphasizes the water soluble nutrients as well as minerals and antioxidants for diabetics Here is an outline of my daily supplement regime. Vitamin C 2000mg/day Vitamin E 800iu aged garlic (Kyolic) co-enzyme Q10 (for cardiovascular health) a Green Drink of highest quality a Once a day also of highest quality magnesium and, to assist my blood sugar control: flax oil milled flax seed chromium 200 mcg. 2X a day vanadi and, for prevention of neuropathy: evening primrose oil: It is believed that diabetics are unable to convert essential fats to gamma linoleic acid, so evening primrose oil is very important. and, for my eyesight: ginkgo biloba and bilberry to aid in the prevention of circulatory eye problems and, for other symptoms as needed: NAG, for repetative stress injury to my wrists immune boosters, for cold or flu ginseng, for lack of energy I know this list will be overwhelming for most people. It is what I do, and I have so far managed to avoid suffering many of the complications of diabetes. Let me encourage you as you seek to live a high quality and healthy life. I know it isn't always easy, but I am confident that there are steps we can take to reach our goal.